dance wand; Yoruba Shango, carved, painted wood, male figure (ht. 27 cm) flanked by drummer (ht. 17 cm) and reclining figure (ht. 10 cm). Image of Shango's thunderbolt resting on the head of central figure, 3-dimensional sculpture of two animals (dog and ox) within the thunderbolt. Height: 53 cm, Width/breadth: 23 cm
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Meko, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
Africa; Nigeria, Yoruba, Meko; made by Duga
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Maker or artist:
Duga of Meko
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
unknown
Materials:
Wood (plant material) (carved, painted wood)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies and 7.3 Weights, Measures, and Computing Devices
Context of use:
Used by worshippers of Shango (Thunder god of Yoruba mythology) who are possessed during Shango's festival. Worshippers are known as Shango's mount. The dance wand represents the worshippers with the thunderstones above them.